Hotel key tag or the like



Sept. 5, 1944. v G. J. EVALT HOTEL KEY TAG- OR THE LIKE Filed May 26, 1942 Patented Sept. 5, 1944 HOTEL KEY TAG OR THE LIKE George J. I Evaltllihiladelphia, Pa.

Application May 26, 1942, Serial No. 444,560

' Claims.

This invention relates to identification tags,

and more particularly to identification tags for use with hotel keys, and the like, to which the tags are usually permanently attached by links,

chains, etc.

The ordinary hotel key identification tag comprises either a metallic structure or one made of vulcanized fibre, plastic, or other composition in which the name and location of the hotel,

the room number, and other identifying indicia are suitably impressed. The identifying indicia are usually rendered readily distinguishable by application thereto of a, prominent color in contrast to that of the body of the tag.

The above noted tags are unsatisfactory for the reason that, due to the keys and the attached tags being subjected to rough usage by guests, porters, maids, bell-hops, etc., the identifying indicia rapidly become unintelligible. Furthermore, these tags are unsatisfactory by reason of the fact that they cannot be interchanged to permit of their use with a key other than that for which the individual tag is originally intended.

' Usually a hotel reserves 2. group of rooms which are occupied by permanent residents.

The keys for such rooms are not subject to any considerable loss. The remaining rooms, however, are occupied by transients who will frequently depart from the hotel and forget to turn in the key to the rooms which they have occupied. Consequently, the supply of keys for transients rooms diminishes quite rapidly and must be constantly replenished. The managevment of a hotel, which has a large number of roms, finds it necessary to replenish its stock of identification tags frequently. In cases where frequent replenishing of the stock of identification tags is necessary, it is desirable to adopt some expedient for altering the indicia on existing identification tags, such for example, as

resorting to the pasting of a strip across the 'room number and inscribing thereon a different particular use merely by inserting the proper hotel identification in the portion of the tag reserved for such indicia, and which is independent of the specific room identification.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of this character which may be very readily and cheaply manufactured under modern mass-production methods and which will be pleasing in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and from the accom- 'panyin drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an identification tag constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3.is a rear elevation of the identification tag; and

Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8, respectively, are detached perspective views of the various elements of the tag structure. I

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the tag comprises front and rear elements I0 and I I which are complementary. The rear face of the front section II! is provided with a recess I2 to receive the rear section I I. The front face of the front section I!) is provided with a window or windows, of which two are shown in the present instance, which are indicated at I3 and I4 respectively. These windows are defined by rabbeted edges I3a and Ma in which may be seated inserts of transparent material I5 and I6, and cards I I and I8, which latter bear the suitable indicia for exposure at the face of the tag, through the windows I3 and I4.

In the present illustration, the upper window I3 exposes the card I! on which is printed or otherwise inscribed the name and address of the hotel, while the lower window I4 exposes the card I8 on which is inscribed the number 'of the room, for which the key attached to the tag is intended. Each tag is adapted to be attached to its respective key through a suitable attaching link, ring or other element designated at 5.

As at present disclosed, the windows I3 and I4 are separated by a relatively heavy rib I9 adjacent the base of the recess I2. At one of its ends, th front section I0 is preferably provided with an extended lug 20 which is transversely perforated at 2|. From the recess I2 to the end of the lug 20, the rear face of the front section I0 is grooved, as at 22, for purposes presently to appear. In the opposite end of the recess I2, the front section I0 is provided with a groove or notch 23 which, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4 is undercut.

The rear section I l is adapted to fit closely in the recess l2 and is grooved at 24 to fit snugly around the transverse cross bar or rib I9 of the of the tag a projection on one of said sections engageable. in a recess formed in the other of said sections to prevent relative displacement of front section Ill. By this arrangement, the back section II is provided with two backing pads Ila and Nb which fit snugly in the windows I3 and M respectively, behind the cards I! and I8, to back up and support said cards in position within the respective windows.

The lower end of the rear section H is provided with a projecting lug 25 for engagement with the front section [9 in the recess 23.

It will be obvious that, with the parts in assembled relation, the lug 25 will serve to prevent any displacement or separation of the two sections, at their lower ends, by pressure applied in a direction normal to the general plane of the sections. The upper end of the back section II has a tang 26 which is adapted to lie within and fill the groove 22 of the front section It. The tip of the tan 26 is perforated, at 21, in alignment with the perforation 2| of the lug 20.

A ferrule 28 is provided and adapted to fit over the lug 20 and hold the tang 26 in position in the groove 22, this ferrule being likewise perforated at 29, the perforations of which will align with those of the lug 20 and tang 26. The ferrule 28 is maintained in position by the attaching element 5, which is passed through the openings of the ferrule, the lug and the tang, and thus serves to prevent displacement of the ferrule.

Obviously, with the ferrule 28 in position, relative displacement of the two sections I and II in a direction normal to the general plane thereof, will be prevented at the upper end of the sections.

The rear face of the rear section II is preferably provided with directions for the return of the key if accidentally carried away or lost as indicated at 30.

It will be obvious that with a construction of the above described character, a stock key tag may be quickly provided for any particular room, it being necessary merely to replace the, indicating card l8 of a tag with another bearing the proper room number. This replacement can be effected at the sole cost of the small identifying card.

It will be obvious that considerable modification of the structure herein illustrated is possible without, in any manner, departing from the spirit of the invention. I accordingly do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the invention except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A tag comprising complementary front and rear sections, said front section having a recess in its back face to receive said rear section and a window in its front face for displaying identification data retained therein by said rear section, and means at the opposite ends respectively of said tag for retaining said rear section in the recess of said front section, including at one end said sections in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the tag.

. 2. A tag comprising complementary front and rear sections, said front section having a recess in its back face to receive said rear section and a window in its front face for displaying identification data retained therein by said rear section, means at the opposite ends respectively of said tag for retaining said rear section in the recess of said front section, including at one end of the tag a projection on one of said sections engageable in a recess formed in the other of said sections to prevent relative displacement of said sections in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the tag, a tang on the rear section projecting at least to the marginal edge of the front section at the opposite end of the tag and engaged in a groove in said front section, and a retainer securing said tang and front section together against displacement in said perpendicular direction.

3. A tag comprising complementary front and rear sections, said front section having a recess in its back face to receive said rear section and a window in its front face for displaying identification data retained therein by said rear section, and means at the opposite ends respectively of said tag for retaining said rear section in the recess of said front section, and a bar extending transversely across the front face of said front section and dividing said window into separate openings, said rear section being transversely grooved to receive said bar.

4. A tag comprising complementary front and rear sections, said front section having a recess in its back face to receive said rear section and a window in its front face for displaying identification data retained therein by said rear section, and means at the opposite ends respectively of said tag for retaining said rear section in the recess of said front section, abar extending across the front face of said front section and dividing said window into two distinct parts, and a pair of pads on said rear section extending into said window parts respectively.

5. A tag comprising complementary front and rear sections, said front section having a recess in its back face to receive said rear section and a window in its front face for displaying identification data retained therein by said rear section, and means at the opposite ends respectively of said tag for retaining said rear section in the recess of said front section, a bar extending across the front face of said front section and dividing said window into two distinct parts, individual identification bearing cards respectively displayed in said separate window parts, and a pair of pads on said rear section extending into said window parts respectively and providing a backing for said cards.

GEORGE J. EVALT. 

